The event Worth Doing: Recognising and Valuing Achievement took place on Tuesday 28 October 2008 in Edinburgh.
The aim of the seminar was to share developing practice and promote discussion on the role of recognition of achievement in community learning and development. This seminar was targeted at those with a role in championing related developments nationally and locally within Community Learning and Development Strategy Partnerships, Adult Literacy and Numeracy Partnerships, Scotland's colleges, voluntary organisations and other key stakeholders in CLD.
Some comments about this event:
| "Well organised, thought provoking and lots of materials available to take away to read and digest." | "Thought the speech given by the cabinet secretary was very relevant." | "A really useful and well attended networking opportunity. Useful discussion and interesting speakers" |
See also the Summary and Report: Worth Doing: Using the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework in Community Learning and Development.
John McKnight, as Chair of Community Learning and Development Managers Scotland, welcomed a wide range of participants to the seminar. He reminded those present that achievement is at the heart of CLD whether achievement through learning for adults, achievement through learning for young people or achievement through building community capacity. Recognising and valuing achievement is therefore fundamental to our work. In CLD we recognise achievement in many ways, using the SCQF is one of them. John commended the programme to delegates which offered practical workshops in the morning and the opportunity later in the day to consider the challenges presented in taking this work forward. He looked forward to hearing the Cabinet Secretary Fiona Hyslop and the thoughts of Evelyn McCann Skills Development Scotland who introduced the challenge sessions.
The keynote speeches
Recognising and Valuing a Smarter Scotland
Fiona Hyslop: Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning
Recognising and Valuing Achievement in the 'Single Lifelong Skills System'
Evelyn McCann: Board Member, Skills Development Scotland
The Morning Workshops
Morning workshops allowed delegates to reflect on practical examples of recognising achievement.
1) Assessing and measuring learning Mary Rhind ( Highland ALN Partnership)
Susan Summers ( Aberdeen ALN Partnership) | This project developed training for adult literacies tutors in benchmarking/levelling and the accreditation of learners' work while retaining the social practice model of delivery. The workshop covered the development of this training and an opportunity for debate around the issues involved. Notes from workshop. |
2) How the SCQF Handbook can support the CLD sector Margaret Cameron, Liz Thomson and Teresa Dolan, ( for the SCQF Partnership) | The SCQF is at the heart of helping individual learners, learning providers, users of qualifications and policy makers promote a culture of lifelong learning in Scotland. The SCQF must support its practical application across all educational sectors and for the recognition of prior learning. The SCQF Handbook is a key document which is currently being reviewed. This workshop explored how the Handbook is currently used by the community learning and development sector and gathered views on appropriate content and format for the revised version. View PowerPoint slides. |
| 3) Putting ourselves in the Framework Susan Walker ( Learning link Scotland)
Nicola Gilbert ( SCVO)
Elizabeth Holden ( Volunteer Development Scotland) | Learning Link and SCVO have undertaken work linking their training programmes to the SCQF. This workshop discussed the impact of this work with voluntary organisations, the learning achieved from benchmarking programmes, and the advantages for learners and the organisation. View PowerPoint slides. |
4) Amazing things - a guide to the youth awards in Scotland Steven Greig ( Youth Scotland) Tim Frew ( YouthLink Scotland) | Amazing Things is a new guide to the individual learning awards available to young people in Scotland using a youth work approach. Delegates received a copy of the guide and heard practical case studies of two of the Awards. View PowerPoint slides. |
| 5) Recognising and valuing achievement with SQA Qualifications Alison Spice ( SQA)
Eunice McAllister ( SQA) | Community Learning and Development Groups recognise the value of accredited learning and SQA have qualifications which are fit for this purpose. The workshop theme was the Core Skills and personal development qualifications which are relevant to learners in every community. View PowerPoint slides. |
| 6) Recognising the value of youth worker training Annette Lambourne ( West Lothian Council) Miranda Aitken ( Aberdeen City Council) | Most CLD providers have training programmes for their youth workers but how do we know just what value they have and how do we judge them against other training programmes? What tools are available that would help us recognise the value of youth worker training? View PowerPoint slides. |
7) Recognising Achievement: A CLD Portfolio Approach
Elenor MacDonald
( Falkirk Council)
Members of the collaborative project from South Lanarkshire Council, Midlothian Council, City of Glasgow Council | This workshop examined the development of a CPD portfolio for part-time, voluntary and sessional staff. It provided an opportunity to try out the resource and to discuss potential application in the delegates local setting. View PowerPoint slides. |
8) Getting Credit for Community Activism
Wilma McCullough ( Perth and Kinross Council)
Fiona Spiers ( Perth and Kinross Council) | Perth and Kinross Community Learning and Development staff, along with partners from Angus Council and Borders Council, have worked together to produce a Community Activist training course which is currently being credit rated by SQA. An opportunity was given to discuss issues raised during the process and the learning materials developed were shared. Notes from workshop. |
Challenge Theme Sessions: where next with Recognising and Valuing Achievement in CLD?
In the afternoon, delegates took part in group discussion to identify key issues and outline ways forward in valuing achievement in CLD. See the reports of the discussions from these sessions.